Deadlock over Indo-Pak water issue continues

Published: Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 12:06 [IST]

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Lahore, Mar.30 (ANI): The deadlock between India and Pakistan over the sharing of Indus river waters continues, as no breakthrough was made during the meeting of Indus Water commissioners from both countries.

Talking to reporters after a day long meeting in Lahore, Pakistan's Indus Water Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah said the visiting Indian delegation was told about Islamabad's concerns over new dams being built by New Delhi on rivers.

Shah said his Indian counterparts assured that New Delhi would try to address these reservations.

"Continuous dialogues will help solve the water issues with India," he said, adding that according to the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, India must inform Islamabad at least six months before finalising the construction of any dam project.

Pakistan had raised objections to India's Chutak and Nimoo Bazgo water projects, saying the projects are affecting water flow in the River Indus.

However, Aranga Nathan, the Indian Indus Water Commissioner, countered Pakistan's claims saying Islamabad was given 'advance information' regarding the construction of the Nimoo Bazgo Dam.

Nathan said India will respond to all queries raised by Pakistan, as it wants to resolve the long pending river water sharing issue quickly.

"We don't believe in such moves and will try to remove all reservations of the Pakistani Government. I am sure about the success of dialogue and my team is ready to respond all queries raised by the Pakistani Water Commission to reach a consensus," Nathan said.

Pakistan has repeatedly blamed India for its unsporting attitude on the water dispute.

Pakistan has opposed the construction of the Kishanganga hydropower project on the Ganga River in Kashmir, which it calls the Neelum. Pakistan has said the diversion of waters of the Neelum is not allowed under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, and it will face a 27 per cent water deficit, when the project is completed.

The reduced water flow in the Neelum would not yield the required results of the proposed 1.6 billion dollars Neelum-Jehlum hydropower project that has been designed to generate 969 MW of electricity.

Islamabad has said that India has almost completed a 22-kilometre long tunnel to divert the Kishanganga waters to the Wullar Lake in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)